Having a rough day

I'm having a rough day/week so far. I started having horrible digestion / stomach issues yesterday morning, which became chest pain later in the afternoon, sometimes intense around heart area. I stayed relatively calm, or at least calm as possible and told myself its just GERD being agitated from the Zoloft. I skipped dinner and it did pass later in the evening.

This morning I ate a microwavable Sausage and Egg brisket for breakfast and stepped into the shower a few minutes later. I started having belching and stomach pain. However it became stabbing pains in the left part of my chest. I went to feel my pulse and it felt fast but also faint which made me panic a little.

I feel its almost certainly related to the Zoloft making my GERD flare up really bad, especially since it came after eating. However it has caused an increase in anxiety for sure.

Any advice, support, or simply re-assurance is appreciated. I have this crazy idea that the Zoloft is going to have negative effects on my heart.

Hi GF.,

I agree...give your doctor a call to see if there is anything that can be done to offset the reflux symptoms...or an alternative that can be discussed.

Until then, try to eat bland foods that won't aggrivate the symptoms.

Hoping you are a feeling better soon...and let us know what you hear.

S.C.

Hey GF,

That is a rough one. Our stories are very similar. I've been through the same exact situation, including with the pulse. The only thing missing is the sausage and egg brisket. I think I had a bowl of Special K.... :) Anyway, if it wasn't the pvc's, I was wondering if my heart beat was too faint, or pounding too hard. I drove myself bonkers, and still technically do from time to time.

I know I can't convince you to let your anxiety about it go, but just want you to know that it is very common to question everything about your heartbeat, especially with all of the testing and anxiety you are going through.

Just remember this though, you are ok. And you are going to get through this! Find something relaxingly distracting if you can!! Best wishes!

Thanks everyone.

The doc would like me to try to work through it for a few more days, unless it gets worse, to give my body time to adjust.

I do take Zantec for GERD and Acid Reflux. Unfortunately I was unable to tolerate PPI drugs very well. Yesterday the Zantec seemed to do nothing, today it seems to be working better. I take my Zoloft around 6-7 pm after dinner. The acid reflux and stomach issues start to hit me the next day, usually right after eating.

The thing that creeped me out the most was the faint pulse. A lot of my anxiety is health anxiety surrounding my heart so I instantly thought it was an arrhythmia or something. I thought Anxiety usually caused racing thumping heart beat, can you get fast faint heart beat with anxiety too?